Final Report Summary - DETECT (Design of optimised systems for monitoring of radiation and radioactivity in case of a nuclear or radiological emergency in Europe)
Project context and objectives:
The objective has been "to develop a methodology for optimising the design of monitoring systems for timely and effective decision making in an emergency". This objective together with the expected impact ("A tool for making more efficient use of monitoring resources and improving the bases for decision making in emergencies, in particular in the context of the need to upgrade/replace during the next decade many of the monitoring systems installed post-Chernobyl") can be seen so that the project should provide all relevant information needed in design of monitoring strategies and show how this information can be used in planning of monitoring systems in an optimised way. Optimising here can be seen as optimisation between the overall costs of monitoring (investments, running costs and personnel costs) on one hand and monitoring information needed by the end-users (decision making) and other needs (social, political, etc.) on the other hand. Monitoring information consists of monitored data, obtained by monitoring systems, and additional information gained by some supporting tools applied to monitored data (interpolation, data assimilation, automatic mapping, etc.). Such supporting tools have been developed in the former framework programmes.
In case of nuclear or radiological emergency the fast delivery of comprehensive information on the existing or future radiological situation is essential for decision making in the early stage of an emergency. Whatever tools are available they have to be judged if they improve decision making. Monitored data and modelled information, used independently or together, have to support decision making allowing the authorities to initiate appropriate measures at the right time. Up to now, monitoring and modelling is often used separately which can be easily recognised looking at support organisations with departments for monitoring and departments for emergency response. In planning new monitoring networks, systems or strategies the same modelling tools can be applied to achieve optimised results. This project collects all relevant factors needed in planning monitoring systems (stationary or mobile) and develops a methodology that uses the supporting modelling tools in order to design optimised systems for different monitoring purposes.
Decision making requires the usage of both monitored data and modelled information as they complement each other. Ideally both information are available in one platform and are combined for the usage of the decision making team. Emergencies can be subdivided into several phases with different needs for decision making. In the pre-release phase, prognostic information from models build the basis for decision making and in the later phases following the release phase, monitored data becomes more and more important. Models are in this stage mainly used for the prognosis of the evolution of the contamination but not longer to define its location and characteristics. In the release phase, modelling and monitoring are both important and recent work has combined both information via data assimilation approaches aiming to improve the analysis of the radiological situation and the forecast of the modelling systems. Important in this respect is that monitoring and modelling information fit together as otherwise no added value can be expected.
Following the Chernobyl accident, many countries have set up monitoring networks of different types and densities and with different objectives. In Germany, the main purpose of the automatic network of ambient dose rate was to capture the path of a cloud coming from outside the country. Other European member states followed different strategies resulting in a very patchy density when compared over Europe. This ranges from 11 fixed stations for example in Denmark up to more than 1000 stations in Germany. More than 20 years later European countries are in the process evaluating the current monitoring networks with the objective to define new goals given new monitoring techniques available but also taking into account the well advanced capability of decision support systems. Countries such as Finland, France and Germany are in the process of upgrading the networks. In this respect also resources necessary to maintain the network have to be considered.
Harmonisation of these networks is extremely valuable with respect to approaches used and equipment installed. Therefore, we aimed at developing a European methodology which allows quantifying the pros and cons of a monitoring system to be installed on a local, national or regional level. Defining monitoring strategies has to account for the given situation, among others, the phase of the accident, release scenario and location as well as the criteria of the decision making team. In this respect, there is no single strategy or information which is appropriate for all possible scenarios.
It is important to stress again, that this consortium is convinced that monitoring and modelling capabilities have to be combined and cannot be treated independently. Nevertheless, the analysis and also the development of monitoring strategies always considered the simulation capability in each European country. Having no Decision support system (DSS) installed, the results of this study can be still used to explore and optimise monitoring strategies. Nevertheless, optimised results are expected for the combination of both.
The objective of this project was to improve decision making by developing a methodology and planning tool for optimising monitoring systems in Europe. This would be achieved via:
- Elicitation of the most important criteria for the decision making in the early phase of an emergency
- Evaluation existing information on monitoring strategies
- Analysis of the equipment available at present
- Project recent development in monitoring equipment for the use in a strategy in future
- Analysis of the most important release scenarios and define which monitoring strategy is most effective for this
- Definition of success criteria for the operation of monitoring networks depending on country specific needs and demands
- Providing simulated "measurements" for testing
- Development of an accident scenario data base for the collection of all relevant information for a given event/scenario combination
- Development of an easy to use tool for defining the best strategy including other factors such as monetary, social and political constraints
Demonstration of the applicability of the methodology in country-specific scenarios.
Project results:
The main scientific and technological result of this project is a planning and optimisation tool that allows the end users to test and develop environmental radiological monitoring strategies for their specific needs. This software tool compiles the knowledge that has been gained with the country-specific scenario calculations and combines it with the monitoring guidelines available from the Member States. It is intended as a stand-alone easy-to-use JAVA based application with a graphical user interface.
The DETECT optimisation tool (DOT) is based on a comprehensive library of simulations of radioactive plumes from 64 sources in Europe that were identified to be most important by the users. The simulations cover whole Europe, so the tool allows evaluation and optimisation for all EU countries as well as evaluation of fencing sensors around the sources. Together with the users, seven cost functions have been developed to evaluate the capability of a given monitoring network to (early) detect radioactive plumes and to allow the generation of dose maps. The tool runs on a server and can be accessed via a graphical user interface (GUI). Users can run evaluations and optimisations and display, store, and download the results.
The DOT is based on a comprehensive database of plume simulations from the RIMPUFF dispersion model. The source terms cover the span of typical half-lives and deposition characteristics. Weather data of a full year was used to generate 292 plumes from each of 64 release points within Europe. Simulations on European and on regional scale allow estimating the potential impact of an atmospheric release of radioactivity from nuclear power plants to countries or to the vicinity of the plants.
The user can choose among seven cost functions to evaluate the goodness of a given network. Four of these criteria determine how well the sensors detect plumes; they can focus on plumes threatening settlements or on early detection. Two test the quality of interpolated maps based on measurements at the sensor sites, e.g. to delineate evacuation zones. Besides, a geometrical criterion can be used to evenly spread the sensor in the whole region.
Networks can not only be evaluated, but also optimised by a greedy search algorithm that can determine the (almost) optimal number and location of sensors to reach a desired detection capability, taking into account already existing sensors or select among proposed sensor locations.
The graphical user interface of the tool provides GIS functionality to visualise the locations of plume sources and sensors as well as some maps of the simulated plumes as overlay over a general map (open street map). These maps can be zoomed and panned. Cost for different monitoring networks can be compared and the cost development during optimisation is given as graph. This interface can also be used to select sources from which plumes should be used, to scale the source term, and to upload and change sensor locations. Further it provides control to the underlying computations. The results can be downloaded in a convenient format comprising an automatic report of the main characteristics. They are also stored in the database of the tool for further use.
The user interface of the tool is web based. A demonstrator of the DOT is available at http://jrodos.fzk.de/Detect/. It is implemented using the Google Web Toolkit (Java to Javascript cross-compiler), thus allowing online access from a very wide spectrum of devices. The online requirement is a standard web browser. It can also be installed locally for confidential use. This virtual machine provides out-of-the-box installation and usability to end users. It includes a complete system with backend, frontend, webserver, GIS, and necessary data to start work with the tool immediately. The backend, which is based on the open source software R, can be run separately by users who want to develop it further.
Potential impact:
This project produced a tool to optimise the deployment of environmental radiological monitoring devices to be used during nuclear emergencies in conjunction with portable resources. This application will be mainly used by nuclear regulators and nuclear emergency response organisations, which are interested in either renewing existing monitoring capabilities installed post Chernobyl or design new networks using state-of-the-art technological advances. The adoption of the outcome of this research project will ensure the early detection of any accidental or incidental release of radioactivity to the environment, which in turn will result in an early deployment of countermeasures to protect members of the public.
All stakeholders associated with nuclear emergency response and environmental monitoring of radioactivity should be interested in the outcome of this project.
The plans for disseminating the outcome of this project include a dissemination workshop and presentations organised by DG Energy for the Ecurie and Eurdep communities. A general public live demonstration at the International Radiological Protection Association conference in Glasgow in May of this year will consolidate the visibility of the DOT as a valuable tool for planning preparedness and response in the event of a major release of radioactivity at or affecting the EU
List of websites:
http://detect.sckcen.be
The objective has been "to develop a methodology for optimising the design of monitoring systems for timely and effective decision making in an emergency". This objective together with the expected impact ("A tool for making more efficient use of monitoring resources and improving the bases for decision making in emergencies, in particular in the context of the need to upgrade/replace during the next decade many of the monitoring systems installed post-Chernobyl") can be seen so that the project should provide all relevant information needed in design of monitoring strategies and show how this information can be used in planning of monitoring systems in an optimised way. Optimising here can be seen as optimisation between the overall costs of monitoring (investments, running costs and personnel costs) on one hand and monitoring information needed by the end-users (decision making) and other needs (social, political, etc.) on the other hand. Monitoring information consists of monitored data, obtained by monitoring systems, and additional information gained by some supporting tools applied to monitored data (interpolation, data assimilation, automatic mapping, etc.). Such supporting tools have been developed in the former framework programmes.
In case of nuclear or radiological emergency the fast delivery of comprehensive information on the existing or future radiological situation is essential for decision making in the early stage of an emergency. Whatever tools are available they have to be judged if they improve decision making. Monitored data and modelled information, used independently or together, have to support decision making allowing the authorities to initiate appropriate measures at the right time. Up to now, monitoring and modelling is often used separately which can be easily recognised looking at support organisations with departments for monitoring and departments for emergency response. In planning new monitoring networks, systems or strategies the same modelling tools can be applied to achieve optimised results. This project collects all relevant factors needed in planning monitoring systems (stationary or mobile) and develops a methodology that uses the supporting modelling tools in order to design optimised systems for different monitoring purposes.
Decision making requires the usage of both monitored data and modelled information as they complement each other. Ideally both information are available in one platform and are combined for the usage of the decision making team. Emergencies can be subdivided into several phases with different needs for decision making. In the pre-release phase, prognostic information from models build the basis for decision making and in the later phases following the release phase, monitored data becomes more and more important. Models are in this stage mainly used for the prognosis of the evolution of the contamination but not longer to define its location and characteristics. In the release phase, modelling and monitoring are both important and recent work has combined both information via data assimilation approaches aiming to improve the analysis of the radiological situation and the forecast of the modelling systems. Important in this respect is that monitoring and modelling information fit together as otherwise no added value can be expected.
Following the Chernobyl accident, many countries have set up monitoring networks of different types and densities and with different objectives. In Germany, the main purpose of the automatic network of ambient dose rate was to capture the path of a cloud coming from outside the country. Other European member states followed different strategies resulting in a very patchy density when compared over Europe. This ranges from 11 fixed stations for example in Denmark up to more than 1000 stations in Germany. More than 20 years later European countries are in the process evaluating the current monitoring networks with the objective to define new goals given new monitoring techniques available but also taking into account the well advanced capability of decision support systems. Countries such as Finland, France and Germany are in the process of upgrading the networks. In this respect also resources necessary to maintain the network have to be considered.
Harmonisation of these networks is extremely valuable with respect to approaches used and equipment installed. Therefore, we aimed at developing a European methodology which allows quantifying the pros and cons of a monitoring system to be installed on a local, national or regional level. Defining monitoring strategies has to account for the given situation, among others, the phase of the accident, release scenario and location as well as the criteria of the decision making team. In this respect, there is no single strategy or information which is appropriate for all possible scenarios.
It is important to stress again, that this consortium is convinced that monitoring and modelling capabilities have to be combined and cannot be treated independently. Nevertheless, the analysis and also the development of monitoring strategies always considered the simulation capability in each European country. Having no Decision support system (DSS) installed, the results of this study can be still used to explore and optimise monitoring strategies. Nevertheless, optimised results are expected for the combination of both.
The objective of this project was to improve decision making by developing a methodology and planning tool for optimising monitoring systems in Europe. This would be achieved via:
- Elicitation of the most important criteria for the decision making in the early phase of an emergency
- Evaluation existing information on monitoring strategies
- Analysis of the equipment available at present
- Project recent development in monitoring equipment for the use in a strategy in future
- Analysis of the most important release scenarios and define which monitoring strategy is most effective for this
- Definition of success criteria for the operation of monitoring networks depending on country specific needs and demands
- Providing simulated "measurements" for testing
- Development of an accident scenario data base for the collection of all relevant information for a given event/scenario combination
- Development of an easy to use tool for defining the best strategy including other factors such as monetary, social and political constraints
Demonstration of the applicability of the methodology in country-specific scenarios.
Project results:
The main scientific and technological result of this project is a planning and optimisation tool that allows the end users to test and develop environmental radiological monitoring strategies for their specific needs. This software tool compiles the knowledge that has been gained with the country-specific scenario calculations and combines it with the monitoring guidelines available from the Member States. It is intended as a stand-alone easy-to-use JAVA based application with a graphical user interface.
The DETECT optimisation tool (DOT) is based on a comprehensive library of simulations of radioactive plumes from 64 sources in Europe that were identified to be most important by the users. The simulations cover whole Europe, so the tool allows evaluation and optimisation for all EU countries as well as evaluation of fencing sensors around the sources. Together with the users, seven cost functions have been developed to evaluate the capability of a given monitoring network to (early) detect radioactive plumes and to allow the generation of dose maps. The tool runs on a server and can be accessed via a graphical user interface (GUI). Users can run evaluations and optimisations and display, store, and download the results.
The DOT is based on a comprehensive database of plume simulations from the RIMPUFF dispersion model. The source terms cover the span of typical half-lives and deposition characteristics. Weather data of a full year was used to generate 292 plumes from each of 64 release points within Europe. Simulations on European and on regional scale allow estimating the potential impact of an atmospheric release of radioactivity from nuclear power plants to countries or to the vicinity of the plants.
The user can choose among seven cost functions to evaluate the goodness of a given network. Four of these criteria determine how well the sensors detect plumes; they can focus on plumes threatening settlements or on early detection. Two test the quality of interpolated maps based on measurements at the sensor sites, e.g. to delineate evacuation zones. Besides, a geometrical criterion can be used to evenly spread the sensor in the whole region.
Networks can not only be evaluated, but also optimised by a greedy search algorithm that can determine the (almost) optimal number and location of sensors to reach a desired detection capability, taking into account already existing sensors or select among proposed sensor locations.
The graphical user interface of the tool provides GIS functionality to visualise the locations of plume sources and sensors as well as some maps of the simulated plumes as overlay over a general map (open street map). These maps can be zoomed and panned. Cost for different monitoring networks can be compared and the cost development during optimisation is given as graph. This interface can also be used to select sources from which plumes should be used, to scale the source term, and to upload and change sensor locations. Further it provides control to the underlying computations. The results can be downloaded in a convenient format comprising an automatic report of the main characteristics. They are also stored in the database of the tool for further use.
The user interface of the tool is web based. A demonstrator of the DOT is available at http://jrodos.fzk.de/Detect/. It is implemented using the Google Web Toolkit (Java to Javascript cross-compiler), thus allowing online access from a very wide spectrum of devices. The online requirement is a standard web browser. It can also be installed locally for confidential use. This virtual machine provides out-of-the-box installation and usability to end users. It includes a complete system with backend, frontend, webserver, GIS, and necessary data to start work with the tool immediately. The backend, which is based on the open source software R, can be run separately by users who want to develop it further.
Potential impact:
This project produced a tool to optimise the deployment of environmental radiological monitoring devices to be used during nuclear emergencies in conjunction with portable resources. This application will be mainly used by nuclear regulators and nuclear emergency response organisations, which are interested in either renewing existing monitoring capabilities installed post Chernobyl or design new networks using state-of-the-art technological advances. The adoption of the outcome of this research project will ensure the early detection of any accidental or incidental release of radioactivity to the environment, which in turn will result in an early deployment of countermeasures to protect members of the public.
All stakeholders associated with nuclear emergency response and environmental monitoring of radioactivity should be interested in the outcome of this project.
The plans for disseminating the outcome of this project include a dissemination workshop and presentations organised by DG Energy for the Ecurie and Eurdep communities. A general public live demonstration at the International Radiological Protection Association conference in Glasgow in May of this year will consolidate the visibility of the DOT as a valuable tool for planning preparedness and response in the event of a major release of radioactivity at or affecting the EU
List of websites:
http://detect.sckcen.be
